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Published on:

31st Jul 2026

An Instrument for Paying Attention

When I was a kid, the camera only came out for special occasions. A single roll of film might last months, sometimes longer. Most of the time the camera lived in a cupboard until there was a reason to bring it out. Birthdays. Christmas. Vacations. Graduations. Film wasn’t something you wasted, so every frame had to justify itself. Back then, the camera itself felt almost mysterious. My father loved machines of every kind, especially engines, and while I didn’t inherit his expertise, through him I became fascinated by how things worked. But a camera seemed different. It wasn’t just a machine. Somehow, it could stop time. It could preserve a moment long after the moment had passed. I didn’t understand how it worked at the time, only that it felt capable of something almost magical.

What’s your instrument? What do you find yourself noticing? How does that curiosity find its way into your work — or your life?

I’d love to hear from you. Email me at talkback@jefferysaddoris.com.

LINKS

YashicaMat 124G

William Eggleston

Pentax Super Program

Maarten Rots

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About the Podcast

Iterations
An occasional exploration of creativity, process, and trying to make sense of things.
Iterations is the audio version of my occasional journal/newsletter where I share stories, personal experiences, and ongoing questions around creativity, process, and making things that matter. Some episodes are more reflective, some are more practical, and some are just me thinking out loud and trying to make sense of things.